Lead Poisoning Symptoms

by National Institutes of Health

The symptoms of lead poisoning are numerous and affect many different body systems. Chronic exposure to even low levels of lead is detrimental to mental development in children, and has been correlated with decreased IQ and behavioral problems.

Body as a whole

Muscle soreness

Fatigue

Weakness

Joint pain

Incoordination

Tremor

Twitching

Convulsions

Eyes, ears, nose, and throat

Visual abnormalities

Gastrointestinal

Loss of appetite

Weight loss

Constipation

Nausea and vomiting

Abdominal pain

Heart and blood vessels

High blood pressure

Nervous system

Agitation

Coma

Hallucinations

Lack of desire to do anything

Irritable

Uncooperative

Headache

Sleeping difficulty

Confusion

Other symptoms of lead piosoning may include hyperirritability, aggressive behavior, decreased appetite and energy, poor sleeping, headaches, constipation, and loss of recently acquired developmental skills (in young children). Anemia and abdominal cramping are also common.

Very high levels may cause acute encephalopathy with vomiting, staggering gait, muscle weakness, seizures, or coma.

Where is Lead Found?

Pottery glaze some paints, storage batteries.some solders, some toys. Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Home Treatment

Contact Poison Control if you think there has been lead exposure. Before inducing vomiting, contact Poison Control to verify that is the correct treatment. Chronic exposure to lead may result in an accumulated overdose for which the ipecac is useless.

If instructed to induce vomiting, proceed as follows or as otherwise instructed:

Give the usual dose of ipecac syrup: 15 milliliters (ml) or 1 TABLEspoonful for children and 30 ml (2 TABLEspoonsful) for an adult. Follow with 1/2 glassful or 4 ounces (oz.) of water for children or 8-12 oz. of water for adults. Repeat one more time in 1/2 hour if vomiting has not occurred.

Before Calling Emergency

Determine the following:

the patient's age, weight, and condition the name of the product (ingredients and strengths if known)the time it was swallowed the amount swallowed

Poison Control, or a local emergency number

They will instruct you if it is necessary to take the patient to the hospital. See poison control centers 1-800-222-1222 for telephone numbers and addresses. Take the container with you to the emergency room.

What to expect at the emergency room

Some or all of the following procedures may be performed:

Use of gastric lavage administration of an IV or oral antidote treatment of the symptoms

Expectations (prognosis)

Complete recovery may take months to years, and there may be permanent neurologic effects of chronic lead exposure in children. Symptoms resembling chronic intoxication may be develop over a period weeks or months.

The nervous and muscular systems can be greatly affected and compromised (no longer function as well as they should) following lead intoxication. Other body systems may be affected to various degrees, such as the kidneys and blood system. Individuals that live may suffer from some permanent brain damage.

The outlook varies depending on the severity of toxicity. People with mildly elevated lead levels often recover without problems. However, even mild lead poisoning in children can cause permanent mental deficits.

People with higher lead levels have an increased risk of long-lasting health impairments and must be followed carefully. Children who have had acute encephalopathy from lead exposure have a much more guarded outlook.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Lead occurs naturally in the environment at very low levels. Relatively high level sources of lead occurred in car exhaust prior to 1980 (the lead from exhaust fumes was ultimately deposited onto the ground) as well as in older paints (modern paint does not contain lead). Other sources exist such as pewter pitchers and dinnerware, birdshot, and fishing weights.

In the past, toothpaste tubes were made of lead and condensed milk cans were soldered with lead. This has been corrected. Lead can also be found in drinking water from homes whose pipes were soldered with lead solder. New building codes require lead-free solder.

Infants and children most at risk are those living in pre-1960's housing where paint often contained lead. Small children often ingest paint chips or dust from lead based paint. Soil in cities with high traffic density may contain high levels of lead from car exhaust.

Signs and tests

Laboratory tests may include:

serum lead levels

erythrocyte protoporphyrin

iron level

complete blood count and coagulation studies

bone marrow biopsy (stippled erythroblasts)

X-ray of the long bones and abdomen

For long-term exposure:

Isolation from or disposal of the lead source

Chelation therapy to remove lead from the bodyIn cases where someone has potentially eaten toxic doses of lead in a short period of time, the following treatments might be done:

Complications

Call your health care provider or local poison control center if signs of lead poisoning exist. 1-800-222-1222

Lead in Drinking Water: Questions and Answers

By National Institutes of Health

How does lead get into my tap water?

Measures taken during the last two decades have greatly reduced exposures to lead in tap water. These measures include actions taken under the requirements of the 1986 and 1996 amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act www.epa.gov/ and the EPAs Lead and Copper Rule . Even so, lead still can be found in some metal water taps, interior water pipes, or pipes connecting a house to the main water pipe in the street. Lead found in tap water usually comes from the corrosion of older fixtures or from the solder that connects pipes. When water sits in leaded pipes for several hours, lead can leach into the water supply.

How do I know if my tap water is contaminated with lead?

The only way to know whether your tap water contains lead is to have it tested. You cannot see, taste, or smell lead in drinking water. Therefore, you must ask your water provider whether your water has lead in it. For homes served by public water systems, data on lead in tap water may be available on the Internet from your local water authority. If your water provider does not post this information, you should call and find out.

Does a high lead level in my tap water cause health effects?

High levels of lead in tap water can cause health effects if the lead in the water enters the bloodstream and causes an elevated blood lead level. Most studies show that exposure to lead-contaminated water alone would not be likely to elevate blood lead levels in most adults, even exposure to water with a lead content close to the Environmental Protection Agencys (EPAs) action level for lead of 15 parts per billion (ppb). Risk will vary, however, depending upon the individual, the circumstances, and the amount of water consumed. For example, infants who drink formula prepared with lead-contaminated water may be at a higher risk because of the large volume of water they consume relative to their body size.

What can I do to reduce or eliminate lead in my tap water?

If your tap water contains lead at levels exceeding EPAs action level of 15 ppb, you should take action to minimize your exposure to the lead in the water. You should begin by asking your water authority this question:

1. Does my water have lead in it above EPAs action level of 15 parts per billion (ppb)? If the answer is no, your water does not contain lead at current levels of concern. If the answer is yes, also ask the next question: 2. Does the service pipe at the street (header pipe) have lead in it?

This information is very important. It determines which of the next two actions (A or B) you should follow to protect your households health. A) If the pipe in the street (header pipe) does NOT have lead, the lead in your tap water may be coming from fixtures, pipes, or elsewhere inside your home. Until you eliminate the source, you should take the following steps any time you wish to use tap water for drinking or cooking, especially when the water has been off and sitting in the pipes for more than 6 hours: a. Before using any tap water for drinking or cooking, flush your water system by running the kitchen tap (or any other tap you take drinking or cooking water from) on COLD for 12 minutes; b. Then, fill a clean container(s) with water from this tap. This water will be suitable for drinking, cooking, preparation of baby formula, or other consumption. To conserve water, collect multiple containers of water at once (after you have fully flushed the water from the tap as described).

B) If the pipe at the street (header pipe) DOES contain lead, lead in the tap water may be coming from that pipe or connected pipes (it may also be coming from sources inside your home). Until the lead source is eliminated, you should take the following steps any time you wish to use tap water for drinking or cooking, especially when the water has been off and sitting in the pipes for more than 6 hours. Please note that additional flushing is necessary:

a. Before using any tap water for drinking or cooking, run high-volume taps (such as your shower) on COLD for 5 minutes or more;

b. Then, run the kitchen tap on COLD for 12 additional minutes;

c. Fill a clean container(s) with water from this tap. This water will be suitable for drinking, cooking, preparation of baby formula, or other consumption. To conserve water, collect multiple containers of water at once (after you have fully flushed the water from the tap as described).

2. In all situations, drink or cook only with water that comes out of the tap cold. Water that comes out of the tap warm or hot can contain much higher levels of lead. Boiling this water will NOT reduce the amount of lead in your water.

3. You can also reduce or eliminate your exposure to lead in drinking water by consuming only bottled water or water from a filtration system that has been certified by an independent testing organization to reduce or eliminate lead. See resources below.

4. Children and pregnant women are especially vulnerable to the effects of lead exposure. Therefore, for homes with children or pregnant women and with water lead levels exceeding EPAs action level of 15 ppb, CDC recommends using only bottled water for cooking, drinking, and baby formula preparation. Because most bottled water does not contain fluoride, a fluoride supplement may be necessary. Also, be aware that some bottled waters have not been tested and may not be appropriate for consumption. Contact independent testing organizations that certify bottled water. See resources below.

5. Make sure that repairs to copper pipes do not use lead solder.

If my water has high lead levels, is it safe to take a bath or shower?

Yes, bathing and showering should be safe for you and your children, even if the water contains lead over EPAs action level. Human skin does not absorb lead in water.

This water information applies to most situations and to a large majority of the population, but individual circumstances may vary. Some situations, such as cases involving highly corrosive water, may require additional recommendations or more stringent actions. At all times, your local water authority remains your first source for testing and identifying lead contamination in your tap water. Many public water authorities have Web sites that include data on drinking water quality, including results of lead testing. Data can be found at the following EPA Web site: